WWE Royal Rumble 2013 – What Did & Did Not Bother Me

The WWE Championship Match

Let me start with the ONLY thing that did in fact bother me about this match and its outcome – why on earth did Rock have to win with the People's Elbow? That was a perfect time for Punk to kick out after the match had restarted and give fans a reason to think he at least had a remote chance of winning again.

I don't care how many people Rock has put away with the move, it's silly to see Punk lose to an elbow drop.

Rock winning the match was the right move. Mark Madden said it best in his latest article. Rock vs Cena II, with the title on the line, is the match that makes the most "business" sense. I still argue that a triple threat match with Punk is the best route to take, but I'll be fine if they go in a different direction with him. His run as champion is one for the record books and he'll have many more big-time matches before his career is done.

I do wonder where Brock Lesnar was. We just reported that Brock Lesnar has signed a new contract through WrestleMania 31, but how did we not know that his current contract was this limited? Most expected he had at least one more pay per view appearance, in addition to a 'Mania match, but maybe he doesn't.

It's possible Lesnar could work the Elimination Chamber event, and from a business standpoint, that makes sense as well. The Rumble match, plus Rock vs Punk, was plenty to sell last night's show. Brock could add an extra boost to the February event if he does in fact have one more appearance before 'Mania. Where he fits in, however, I have no clue.

I'm looking forward to the next couple months with Rock as the champion, mainly to see how the hardcore and internet fans react now that it's all said and done. There were already a lot of CM Punk chants last night; I won't be surprised if there's even more going forward.

WWE will likely get Rock away from Punk very quickly, unless he is to be added to the main event match at 'Mania. If they don't, I'm afraid there's a good chance Rock could experience a bit of a backlash with a very vocal minority. Remember WrestleMania 18? It could happen again.